TOPIC:

True to his name, Rebel declined to add to the list, so that should be:
1. The Beer Nut
2. Hendrixcat (sat)
3. Beer is the reason
4. Ger Cork
5. rebel (saturday afternoon only)
6. Ichiban (Saturday)

I think it's fairly clear at this point that awards business should conclude on Saturday.

1. The Beer Nut
2. Hendrixcat (sat)
3. Beer is the reason
4. Ger Cork
5. rebel (saturday afternoon only)
6. Ichiban (Saturday)
7. Bog Myrtle (Saturday)
8. A Friend In Mead (Saturday)

1. The Beer Nut
2. Hendrixcat (sat)
3. Beer is the reason
4. Ger Cork
5. rebel (saturday afternoon only)
6. Ichiban (Saturday)
7. Bog Myrtle (Saturday)
8. A Friend In Mead (Saturday)
9. noby (Sat)

I've been looking at ways of weighting the voting system to make it fairer, so that if only one person drinks Galway Hooker, say, and gives it top marks, it doesn't automatically win. I ran some test numbers on the system outlined here[/url:38320p06], and it seems to be working OK.

So, if the panel are happy with this, all I'll need is an undertaking to try as many beers as possible -- the more you try the fairer the voting -- and a percentage rating on each. Comments? Objections?

It means we should probably put a deadline on the voting to give time for the calculations. Does 7pm sound reasonable? If we agreed to meet at a set time to hand in our scoresheets we could then make the final decision on the Beer of the Festival award while the Beer of the Year calculations are run. The whole lot could then be announced together, say at 8 or so.

Does that make sense?

I'll be on the half measures, so. How many beers are we anticipating?

From Rebel's list I count 25 Irish beers. I'd be planning to start with a half of the five I've never had before, which I'd be happy to share with other judges, then move on to sampling more familiar ones.

Since we have cider enthusiasts on board, I'm wondering if we should be including the ciders in the mix as well. My inclination would be not. What does anyone else think?

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1. O'Hara's Stout
2. O'Hara's Red
3. Curim
4. Druid
5. Celebration
6. Belfast Blonde
7. Molly's
8. Silver
9. Galway Hooker
10. Irish Coffee
11. Oyster
12. Temple Brau
13. UCC Bock
14. UCC Lager
15. Belfast Ale
16. Clotworthy Dobbin
17. MM Imperial
18. MM Haus
19. MM Best
20. Shandon
21. Rebel Red
22. Rebel Lager
23. Blarney Blonde
24. Friar Weisse
25. Franciscan Well Cask